Garden Spiders

Have you ever noticed those intricate webs decorating your garden or porch in the spring and fall? Chances are, they belong to the European Garden Spider, also known as Araneus diadematus. These harmless spiders are quite common and have some fascinating habits.

In late spring, their eggs hatch from silk-wrapped clutches and by May and June, you might find clusters of tiny spiderlings that look like brown and yellow bird droppings. At the slightest disturbance, they scatter in all directions along nearly invisible webs.

On warm spring days, these miniature spiders engage in "ballooning." They release long silken strands that catch the wind, carrying them to new locations. This method of travel can take them great distances and heights, much to the dismay of homeowners and boat owners who find webs in unexpected places.

Besides spring dispersal, young spiders use ballooning to find better habitats. Adult spiders, however, must walk or swing down from trees on long strands of web. This can leave webs draped over bushes and structures, creating a bit of a mess.

Once a spider finds a suitable spot, it becomes very industrious in maintaining its web. These webs can span great distances to catch flying insects. I once saw a web suspended from a power line to the ground – quite the feat!

Spider silk is truly remarkable. It's made of cross-linked chains of plastic-like polymers and is 10 to 100 times thinner than a human hair. Despite its delicate appearance, spider silk has five times the tensile strength of steel and is almost as resilient as rubber. Imagine a single strand of spider silk reaching around the world – it would weigh less than a pound!

Spider venom is equally fascinating. Not only does it help spiders catch their dinner, but many compounds in the venom have properties that could revolutionize medicine and pest control.

Despite their amazing adaptations, it's hard to admire spiders when you're wiping a web out of your hair. Spiders, webs, egg cases, and droppings can create quite a mess. Often, washing and scrubbing won't remove all the residue without a fresh coat of paint.

There are effective ways to reduce spider activity around your home. 

Light Management: Flying insects are attracted to light, and spiders follow. Instead of placing lights directly on your house, consider putting them in the yard and shining them back towards the house. This actually attracts insects and spiders away from your home. Adding motion detectors to exterior lights can also help, as can switching to yellow bulbs, which are less attractive to insects.

Landscape Management: Reducing the habitat for spiders near your home will decrease their numbers. Fewer shrubs mean fewer spiders. Since these spiders rely on flying insects for food, they rarely come inside unless by accident. Keeping door seals in good repair can help prevent indoor encounters.

Deciding whether to treat for spiders is a personal choice that depends on your tolerance for them and their mess. Every home will have some level of spider activity outside. For some, doing nothing is an option, while others might need to carry a broom every time they enter or leave the house.